HC Deb 02 December 1993 vol 233 cc734-5W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that individual brewers are making it possible for the lessees to sell a guest beer.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

The requirement to allow tenants to sell a guest beer is one of the provisions of the Beer Orders. Monitoring compliance with the Beer Orders is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading. I have therefore written to him, asking that his office reply to your question as soon as possible.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will place in the Library the evidence available to his Department to show that the brewing companies have carried out their obligation under the Beer Orders(a) to free a certain percentage of public houses and (b) to allow a guest beer.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

Monitoring compliance with the Beer Orders is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT). Information which is supplied by the brewers to the OFT about the composition of their estates is commercially confidential. However, I have written to the DGFT, asking that his office write to you explaining the position as soon as possible.